Exploring dual-system involvement for domestic violence victimisation and child maltreatment perpetration: An exploration by gender and race/ethnicity

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Gilbert, Brigitte
Stewart, Anna
Hurren, Emily
Little, Simon
Allard, Troy
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2022
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

Background: There is an historical separation between system responses to domestic violence (DV) and child maltreatment. Concerns have been noted that DV victims may be over-represented as parents responsible for harm to children in the child protection system. Although there is a growing acknowledgement of the high overlap between DV and child maltreatment within families, little empirical research has been conducted on this relationship. Objective: This study aims to longitudinally examine the overlap of being a victim of DV and a perpetrator of child maltreatment, along with the impact of dual-system involvement on the nature and frequency of the violence experienced. Methods: The data are linked longitudinal administrative data from the Queensland Cross-sector Research Collaboration (QCRC) repository. These data contain each contact every individual born in Queensland in 1983 or 1984 had with the Queensland DV civil court system and the Queensland statutory child protection system. Results: Of individuals identified as a perpetrator of child maltreatment, 45% have also been a victim of DV and approximately 22% of DV victims were identified as a perpetrator of child maltreatment. Our results also show differences based on Indigenous status, gender, parental status, number of substantiations, frequency of violence, harm type, and number of domestic violence orders. Conclusions: There is considerable overlap between individuals who are victims of DV and individuals who perpetrate child maltreatment. This overlap was influenced by both gender and race/ethnicity. The implications of this study for both policy and practice are discussed.

Journal Title

Child Abuse & Neglect

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

124

Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Criminology

Social work

Psychology

Applied and developmental psychology

Social Sciences

Family Studies

Psychology, Social

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Gilbert, B; Stewart, A; Hurren, E; Little, S; Allard, T, Exploring dual-system involvement for domestic violence victimisation and child maltreatment perpetration: An exploration by gender and race/ethnicity, Child Abuse & Neglect, 2022, 124, pp. 105440

Collections